St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Diocese of Los Angeles and the West

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1 St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Diocese of Los Angeles and the West Mailing Address: 4718 Horsehaven, Post Falls, Idaho Church Phone: (208) Fr. Basil Caldaroni: (208) frbasil@caldaroni.net Church Website: Parish Directory: User: Faithful Password: TheWay Send announcements to members@stjohnorthodox.org Sunday of Forgiveness February 22, 2015 Explusion of Adam from Paradise As we begin the Great Fast, the Church reminds us of Adam s expulsion from Paradise. God commanded Adam to fast (Gen. 2:16), but he did not obey. Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden and lost the life of blessedness, knowledge of God, and communion with Him, for which they were created. Both they and their descendents became heirs of death and corruption. Let us consider the benefits of fasting, the consequences of disobedience, and recall our fallen state. Today we are invited to cleanse ourselves of evil through fasting and obedience to God. Our fasting should not be a negative thing, a mere abstention from certain foods. It is an opportunity to free ourselves from the sinful desires and urges of our fallen nature, and to nourish our souls with prayer, repentance, to participate in church services, and partake of the lifegiving Mysteries of Christ. At Forgiveness Vespers we sing: Let us begin the time of fasting in light, preparing ourselves for spiritual efforts. Let us purify our soul, let us purify our body. As we abstain from food, let us abstain from all passion and enjoy the virtues of the spirit.... Forgiveness Sunday - In the Orthodox Church, the last Sunday before Great Lent the day on which, at Vespers, Lent is liturgically announced and inaugurated is called Forgiveness Sunday. On the morning of that Sunday, at the Divine Liturgy, we hear the words of Christ: "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses..." (Mark 6:14-15) Then after Vespers after hearing the announcement of Lent in the Great Prokeimenon: "Turn not away Thy face from Thy child for I am afflicted! Hear me speedily! Draw near unto my soul and deliver it!", after making our entrance into Lenten worship, with its special memories, with the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, with its prostrations we ask forgiveness from each other, we perform the rite of forgiveness and reconciliation. And as we approach each other with words of reconciliation, the choir intones the Paschal hymns, filling the church with the anticipation of Paschal joy.

2 What is the meaning of this rite? Why is it that the Church wants us to begin Lenten season with forgiveness and reconciliation? These questions are in order because for too many people Lent means primarily, and almost exclusively, a change of diet, the compliance with ecclesiastical regulations concerning fasting. They understand fasting as an end in itself, as a "good deed" required by God and carrying in itself its merit and its reward. But, the Church spares no effort in revealing to us that fasting is but a means, one among many, towards a higher goal: the spiritual renewal of man, his return to God, true repentance and, therefore, true reconciliation. The Church spares no effort in warning us against a hypocritical and pharisaic fasting, against the reduction of religion to mere external obligations. As a Lenten hymn says: In vain do you rejoice in no eating, O soul! For you abstain from food,but from passions you are not purified. If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast. Now, forgiveness stands at the very center of Christian faith and of Christian life because Christianity itself is, above all, the religion of forgiveness. God forgives us, and His forgiveness is in Christ, His Son, Whom He sends to us, so that by sharing in His humanity we may share in His love and be truly reconciled with God. Indeed, Christianity has no other content but love. And it is primarily the renewal of that love, a return to it, a growth in it, that we seek in Great Lent, in fasting and prayer, in the entire spirit and the entire effort of that season. Thus, truly forgiveness is both the beginning of, and the proper condition for the Lenten season. One may ask, however: Why should I perform this rite when I have no "enemies"? Why should I ask forgiveness from people who have done nothing to me, and whom I hardly know? To ask these questions, is to misunderstand the Orthodox teaching concerning forgiveness. It is true, that open enmity, personal hatred, real animosity may be absent from our life, though if we experience them, it may be easier for us to repent, for these feelings openly contradict Divine commandments. But, the Church reveals to us that there are much subtler ways of offending Divine Love. These are indifference, selfishness, lack of interest in other people, of any real concern for them -- in short, that wall which we usually erect around ourselves, thinking that by being "polite" and "friendly" we fulfill God s commandments. The rite of forgiveness is so important precisely because it makes us realize be it only for one minute that our entire relationship to other men is wrong, makes us experience that encounter of one child of God with another, of one person created by God with another, makes us feel that mutual "recognition" which is so terribly lacking in our cold and dehumanized world. On that unique evening, listening to the joyful Paschal hymns we are called to make a spiritual discovery: to taste of another mode of life and relationship with people, of life whose essence is love. We can discover that always and everywhere Christ, the Divine Love Himself, stands in the midst of us, transforming our mutual alienation into brotherhood. As l advance towards the other, as the other comes to me we begin to realize that it is Christ Who brings us together by His love for both of us. And because we make this discovery and because this discovery is that of the Kingdom of God itself: the Kingdom of Peace and Love, of reconciliation with God and, in Him, with all that exists we hear the hymns of that Feast, which once a year, "opens to us the doors of Paradise." We know why we shall fast and pray, what we shall seek during the long Lenten pilgrimage. Forgiveness Sunday: the day on which we acquire the power to make our fasting true fasting; our effort true effort; our reconciliation with God true reconciliation. Father Alexander Schmemann

3 RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE THREE Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy. KONTAKION FOR FORGIVENESS SUNDAY IN TONE SIX O Thou Who guidest to wisdom, and givest understanding and intelligence, the Instructor of the ignorant, and Helper of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it understanding, O Master. Give me word, O Word of the Father; for behold, I shall not refrain my lips from crying to Thee, O merciful One, have mercy upon me who am fallen. THE EPISTLE (For Sunday of Forgiveness) Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises. O clap your hands, all ye nations. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (13:11-14:4) Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand. THE GOSPEL (For Sunday of Forgiveness) The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (6:14-21) The Lord said to His Disciples: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

4 ANNOUNCEMENTS St. John Lunch: Potluck for Cheesefare (this Sunday) Just a quick reminder that this Sunday (Cheesefare) is a potluck. This is a great time to clean out those egg and cheese dishes from your fridge and freezer! Bring a dish to share, and we'll see you Sunday! Welcome Baby Isaac - Many Blessed Years! We are rejoicing with Brad and Mindy Horne at the birth of their new baby boy Isaac this past Wednesday. Both baby and mom are doing well, glory to God! May God be with them and grant them many, many, many blessed years! Interview on Christian Country Radio Station Fr. Basil will be doing an on-the-air interview on the local Christian Country radio station (89.9 FM) this coming Monday, February 23, at approximately 6:15 to 6:30 AM. Since Monday the 23rd is Clean Monday, the first day of Great Lent, it is appropriate that they will be asking about the meaning and practices of Great Lent. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will use this short broadcast to draw some of our fellow North Idahoans to our Lord and His Holy Orthodox Church and that He would anoint Fr. Basil to do a good job for His glory! If you are up and around that early on Monday tune the program in! They are also broadcasting live over the Internet if you cannot tune in on the radio. Here is the home page where the link for listening is available: Save the Date Baby Shower for Mindy Home: Saturday, March 28th at 1:30 p.m. (lunch), there will be a baby shower for Mindy Horne and her new baby boy - Isaac. Mindy is registered at Amazon.com. Go to the following link: - and enter Mindy Horne for the name. Mindy is also the mother of Lydia (15 mos old) and Isisdora (2 1/2 years old) and moved here with her husband Bradley from Cheyenne, WY where they attended Fr. Paul Truebenbach's church. Please keep Mindy and Brad and their family in your prayers as Brad is currently serving in Afghanistan until the birth and then gone for training from the 6th to the 15th of March which is why the shower is being planned later rather than sooner. So, save the date and let's celebrate together the birth of yet another new life in our family of St. John's, namely Joseph. Michael Ingram will be Joseph's Godfather. Glory to God! St. John Bakesale Update - We are scheduled to bake Queen Elizabeth cakes February 25th, Kourabiethes February 28 th, and Date Mammouls March 7th. The most needed ingredients are; eggs, butter, granulated sugar, butter, coconut and butter. If you would consider donating or would like to bake please see Allyson, Tiffani, Mary, Joy or Kelly. Let us Lay Aside all Earthly Cares - Men s Lenten Retreat - March 20-22, 2015 The Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. John the Honorable Forerunner in Goldendale, Washington, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, invites you to a Lenten Retreat with The V. Rev. Fr. Gregory Horton. Fr. Gregory will be speaking on: Let Us Lay Aside all Earthly Cares. Flyer and registration form (due by March 10 th ) are available online at the following link:

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6 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES & EVENTS Saturday, February 21: - Great Vespers 6:00pm Sunday, February 22: Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare) - Orthros 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am; Forgiveness Vespers with Lunch following Monday, February 23: Clean Monday Beginning of Great Lent - Great Canon of Repentance 6:30pm Tuesday, February 24: Great Canon of Repentance 6:30pm Wednesday, February 25: Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 6:30pm Thursday, February 26: Great Canon of Repentance 6:30pm Friday, February 27: Little Compline with Akathist Hymn 6:30pm Saturday, February 28: Great Vespers 6:00pm Sunday, March 1: Sunday of Orthodoxy - Orthros 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am; Sunday School and Lunch following; Pan-Orthodox Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers with Procession of Icons 6:00pm EPISTLE READERS Feb 22 Owen Rush Mar 1 Tabitha Townsend Mar 8 Joy Corey Mar 15 Sbdcn. Barnabas LUNCHEON & CLEANUP Feb 22 Team 2: (Cheesefare Potluck Please bring a dish to share) Joy Corey, Morey Ranson, Holmen family, Roth family, Tecca family Mar 1 Team 4: Rush family, Foster Caldaroni, Peterson family, Sandford family Mar 8 Team 5: Gallatin Family, Schaefer family, Ebert family, Phillips family Mar 15 Team 1: Dale Ayoub, Ott family, Purviance family, Bardwell family PRAYERS FOR THE LIVING: Scott (friend of Jenny Dancy s Mom), Presbytera Irene Supica, Fr. Thomas Hopko, Suffering Christians throughout the Middle East, Metropolitan Paul Yazigi and Metropolitan Youhanna Ibrahim (hostages in Syria) PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED: Dn. David Daumit COMMUNION - Since we understand Communion to mean that we have all things in common, sharing an identical Faith, only those who are members of the Orthodox Church who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and recent confession may participate in Holy Communion. (We invite all, however, to partake of the blessed bread which is distributed at the dismissal.) Please see the pastor for inquiries on how to become a member.